Sign-projection apparatus



Aug. M, 3925 T. A. NQLAN SYIGN PROJECTION APPARATUS A Fi'e dan. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1q Aug. n, i925.

`T. A. NOLAN SIGN PROJECTION APARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVN iwf 4f Aug. M

T. A. NOLAN SIGN PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 AMEN wrwndm T. A. NOLAN SIGN PROJECTION APPARATUS Aug. 11, 1925.

Filed Jan. 24. 1921 4 Sheecs-Sheetv 4 Patented Aug. it, i925.

parent ortica.

THADUS A. NOLANV F GENCNNATI, OREG.

'SGN-FROECTEOK APPARATUS.

Application :filed January 24, 1921. Serialv No. 439,435.

mi), a sign projection apparatus in which the lid character -images are made to appear upon and move across the sight portion of the `sign in proper sequence and in uniform regularity.

A further object is to produce an improved sign of the image projection type in which the characters thereo are placed upon the character-bearing element in a manner such that a great length otlegend orV other display matter ma from a relatively short lengt of c aracterbearing element. I j

A further object is to' produce a sign of the image projection type in which means are provided for projecting character images individually and consecutively from 'a character-bearing element containing more than. onel row of characters at any point thereof taken transversely of its length. f

A further object is'to produce apparatus for the projection of character images from 1 paratus being broken` away andthe lamp a character-bearing element of the type and in the manner set forth in the preceding objects. l

These and yother objects are attained in the sign described in the vfollowing specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which: f

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a sign projection apparatus. embodying my 1nvent1on,' the `chara'ctenbearing element of the aphouse door being shown partly open to more clearly illustrate other details of the apparatus.

, Fig. 2 is a front elevation tus as shown in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a plan view of` the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. j j

of themapparai-l be rejectedmounted at one 'end governor 16 bemgprovidedt increasing .Fig. It is a transverse sectional end elevation taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a ragmental transverse Sectiorh al elevation taken on the broken section line v--ti of Fig. et.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional plan view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4:.

Fig.` 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of the character-bearing element of the apparatus embodying my invention.

titl` Fig. 8 is a ragmental and somewhat diagrammatic detail view of a slight modification of my apparatus.

`My invention consists in providing a character-bearing element and especially designed mechanism to be used in connection therewith, whereby 'a great length ofreading or display matter may be had from a relatively short and easily handled character-bearing element such `as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7. P

in describing my invention `ll will irst describe the character-bearing element. The

reading or ydisplay matter is placed upon the l character-bearing element in a spiral line;

the element preferably being oa Hexible` material such as ypaper or other material like the film which is found in motion picture films, but is made relatively short and endless. lin Fi 7 l have shown the. characterbearing le ement 8 in elevation, with the characters diagrammatically shown by lines 9 to illustrate the spiral lacing of the from images ofthe characters which are punched, stamped, stenciled or' otherwise placed thereon, has a base- 10 onwhich is film moving mechanism y12 adjacent thereto.

In-the base 'an electric cable 13 -entersto supply current to the lamp 14 within the lamp house aswell asto thenotor 15 whichldrives l lthe film-movin mechanism a re lator or a lamp house 1.1., with .display matter thereon.. Te 'charactere kbearing element is normally in ring or band form and the linesas disclosedv iny Fig. '1 `will form one continuous line' spirally arfor being driven thereby.

A frame 31 extends upwardly from the base and is provided with an` opening.32 located between two vertical shafts 33 and l34 having bearing in a forward extension at the top of the frame above opening 32- and in a similar extension 36 below opening 32. A bevel gear 37 which meshes with gear 24 is secured tothe lower end of shaft 33 and a duplicate gear 38 is secured to the lower end of shaft 34. Each shaft 33 and 34 is provided with a knob 39 at its upper end and a groove 40 directly beneath the knob, into which the' end 41 of a set screw 42 may be brought to hold the shaft elevated as shown at the left of F ig. 4 so that bevel gears 24 and 37 or 25 and 38` may be held from engagement with each other, orallowed to drop to engage each other, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. `Slidingly mounted upon the shafts 33 and .34 is a frame 43 and carried by'y the frame,

when itis moved upon the shafts, are sprock ets 48 and 49-whicl1 are splined upon the shafts and which are provided with teeth 50 which engage the sprocketlholes 51 of the character-bearing element shown in Fig. 7, and cause it to be moved as will be hereinafter set lforth. 4To cause the frame 43 to reciprocate upon the shafts I providean arm 45 carrying a roller 44 which rides updn the surface of cam 30 which is designed to maintain the line of characters on the character-bearing element in constant registration with an aperture 7l which is hereinafter described. Cooperating with the sprockets are rollers 52 and 53 which are rotatively mounted in the ends of lugs 54 -on a relatively lioht auxiliary frame 55 which is movable witi relation t0 frame 43, but which is connected for movement therewith by means of a pair .of rods 5 6 and 57 lwhich are secured in auxiliary frame 55, but' which slide in' frame43. The ends of rods 56 and 57 extend to the rear of :frame 43 and have mounted upon them springs 58 and 59l which bear against washers 60 and 61 on the rods.

These springs draw auxiliary frame 55- toward frame 43 and hold rollers 52 and 53 toward'sprockets 48 and 49 so that the character-bearing element is held in proper relation tothe sprockets. Between frame 43 and auxiliary frame 55 I have located a primary aperture plate 62 which is held against extensions 35 and 36 of frame 31 by screws.

63 and 64 located in slots in the aperture plate. About centrally between extensions 35 and 36 and in axial ali ment with the condenser tube 65 of the amp house and lens tube 66 I have located an aperture 67 in the plate, this aperture bein somewhat wider than the height of the c iaracters on the character-bearing element and located in alignment with a central opening 68 in the auxiliary frame 55. In front of plate 62 a secondary apertureplate 69 is located, this plate being spaced from late 62 by a. block 70 to afford a space in w ich the characterbearing element may travel to and from the sprockets'48 and 49. A

Secondary aperture plate '69 is provided with a-n aperture 71 the width of which is the height of the characters on the character-bearing element 8. In the upper end-0f plate 62, which extends above frame extension 35, I have provided a pin 72 which extends iearwardly into a slot 73 of an adjustment screw 74 which extends above extension 35 for purposes of adjustment of the aperture plates tobring aperture 71 into alignment with the line of characters on the character bearing element 8 passing between the apertures 67 and 71 over sprockets 48 use as lifting handles for rockin the rod toA cause its crank portion 7 6 to pu l auxiliary frame 55 away from theframe'43 against the pressure of springs 58 and 59 s o that the character-bearing element may be placed in position when the rollers and the sprockets are thus separated. Pressingl down on the handles causes the auxiliary ame to be released so that the rollers will hold the `charnoter-bearing element in position on the sprockets.

The lens tube 66 as well as the lam house 11 are shown mounted on rods 82 an 83 located in extensions 36 of the stationary frame 31,l the lens tube holder 84 being adjustable on the rods andthe tube being in turn adjustable within the holder for purposes of proper focusing.

I have provided an adjustment device for the governor 16, consisting of a disc 85 attached tothe governor weights, a lever 86 which is pivoted between its ends on abearing 87' and lhas one nd'cushioned to bear against the disc 85 with the otherl end held by a spring 88 against a cam 89 secured to the lower end of a vertical. shaft 90 uponthe upper end of which an adjustment knob 91 is located.

In order to bring the image which is protion on the sight portion of the sign, which i .67 fromtheend of the curved surface directly remera i and having a thumb screw` 9415er holding it in adjusted positions. By this means the lentire apparatus may be tipped back upon its stationary feet and '9b-to bring the image into proper position upon the screen or, sight portion.

An additional feature of my apparatus lies in the provisionot an automatic circuit breaker by (means of which the apparatus e may be stopped upon the completion of the display matter upon the character-bearing element. rlhis automaticrcircuit breaker consistsof a pivoted switchlever 97 Aand contacts 98 which are held together nor-l f mally by a spring 99, but which mayI bev moved apart when a bar 100 engages a rearf wardly extending ringer 101 'or' the switch lever, as shown in Fig. 1. Bar 100 is .frictionally pivoted at a point 102 on the side ot the sliding frame 43 and is adapted to be moved to the full line position shown, when it is desired to have the mechanism stop upon' completion of the showing ot' the' display matter, or it. may be swung aside to the dotted line position, in which it will stay, when it is desired to allow the mechanism to continuous-operation f r an indefinite period with repeated display of the subject; matter of the character-bearing element.

ln the operation of my'invention the apparatus is started with the slidingrame riding upon the lowestportion of the cam, thus placing the character-bearing element in position to have the beginning of the legend thereof appear through aperture/71. To facile itate the alignment Yof the aperture plates with the charactersot the character-bearingelement, the adjustment screw is turned 'to` raise or lower the plates. Thespeed of ope-ration 'of the mechanism, the spacing between the convolutions of characters on the characterbearing element, and the rate of lift of the cam being proportioned to one another, the successive characters in the spiral linewill always appear"v in register with the aperture 71 'and the speedmay be varied to suit the speed at which the sign can-'be read easily.

When the end of the reading matter isreached, the highest, point of. the cam will pass beyond the roller 4A of the sliding frame, whereupon the. frame will drop, thus bringing the isplay matter upon the band to the point of beginning, it havingfbeen proportionedto end and begin at this period of the operation. 1n order that the frame 43 may notdrop with a j ar, the arm, 45' may be ofset slightly cam so that the roller 44 will ride down the straight side of the cam instead ov dropping from the centerV 'line of the tilt new one put in its place, whereupon the han-V f dies being released, the apparatus may be started, the` image projection in each case taking place through aperture 71, the image of the new legend appearing in motion upon the sight portion of the sign as previously described. i

However to facilitate the changing o one `cha'racte'r-ibefa-ring element to another having a dii'erent legend, after the movable frame has dropped and the circuit breaker has stopped the mechanism,`1 have provided on eitherthe plate 69 or frame 55 or both, an element centering line or Aarrow 103 which, when a cooperating line or arrow 102i on the character-'bearing element is brought into registration therewith, will place the element in proper position for beginningthe display or' its-legend through'aperture 71.

'lhe drawings show the apparatus arranged to display the `subject matter of the element through a translucent sight portion such as ground glass, prepared or thin paper orV cloth, etc., instead of upon an opaque surface. Should it be desired to display the subject matter on any opaque surface #it is but necessary to lift upon knob' 39 to remove gear 38 romigear 25 and to seicure it in gear disengaging position by bringing the end al ot' set screw 4;2 into K groove a() of shaft 34C, at the same time al` lowing gear 37 to mesh with gear 24 by removing end 41 of screw 42 from groove 40 of .shaft 33, which converts sprocket 4:8 in-to the driver instead' of sprocket 49 which is now the idler. The characterbearing element, which is merely a relatively short band, is now turned inside out and the band isturned overto bring'the beginning of the legend in proper position at the top edge thereof, as previously. rlFhis causes the cha racters to be reversed from their previous position and to be presen-ted the appa'- ratus side of the sight portion, incorrect or\ der and moving correctly from the viewers side of thesight portion. The projection ot `the character images therefore` will appear in correct order and move in proper sequence across the sight portion.

rlhe style ofprojection justdescribed-in which both the viewer dtheapparatus are Aon the same side of the sigh-t portion, is of value in the usual motion picture theatre, in projecting against walls of'buildings, sign boards, and the like; while the reverse method ii'rst described is sirable inl show windows an in similar cases lwherereverse side projection would have to 'le used.I

articularly `.de-

Although l have descrlbed my invtmtion/l'w as being embodied in the apparatus illustrated, various modications and deviations therefrom may be made Without departing Athe aperture of the aperture plate, in registration therewith and lin proper sequence, and an automatic stop having manually operable means for placing it in and out of operative relation .with 'the mechanism, whereby the mechanism may be stbpped automatically upon completion of the display of the characters on the icharacter-bearingy element.

2. A sign projection 'apparatus comprising a character-bearing elementl with theJ characters4 arrangedthereon in a spiral line having aseries of convolutions` an aperture plate, mechanism for moving the element longitudinally across the aperture of the aperture plate, separate mechanism for ,moving the relement transversely to bring the charactels in a spiral line consecutively in registration with the aperture, an automatic stop, and means adapted to coordina-te the operations of the first mentioned mechanism, the second mentioned mechanism, and the stop, whereby the stop will stop the mechanisms uponcompletion of the-movement of the characters across the aperture.

3. In a sign projection apparatus the combination of an image projection device, a band-like character-,bearing element. having the characters thereof arranged in a spiral line having convolutions, mechanlsm v.

for moving the characterbearing element longitudinally and transversely in operative relation to the projection device, manually operable means for reversing the mechanism, means for driving the mechanism, and a manually and automatically-operable stop adapted to stop the means upon completion of lthe display of images projected from the characters on the character-bearing element.

4. In a sign projection apparatus the combination of a character-bearing element, and a mechanism for moving the characterbearing element, said element having a series of lines of characters thereon arranged in substantially spiral formation, said mechanism consisting ofa` stationary frame, a movable frame reciprocally mountedon the stationary frame, element propelling means on the movable frame adapted' to lhaving the characters of a legend or other 4display matter arranged thereon in substantially a series of lines extending longitudinally of the element, and means for operating the character bea-ring element, consisting4 of a relativelyl stationary frame, a relatively movable frame, element moving means on the movable frame, movable frame moving means Von the stationary frame, and driving mechanism adapted to coordinate the operation of the frame and element` moving means and to impart to both continuous uniform movements in directions transversely opposed toeach other, j

said frame moving means having a cam adapted to maintain successive characters of the character bearing element in display alignment with a sign sight portion during movement of the element.

6. A 1signlcomprising an endless character bearing element, an aperture plate, mechanism for mounting and moving the character bearing element longitudinally thereof with reference to the aperture plate, separate mechanism. for mounting and moving the element transversely of the aperture plate simultaneously with the longitudinal movement of the element, driving mechanism for the longitudinal and transverse movement mechanisms connected therewith for the coordinate operation thereof, and a' reversing device for the longitudinal movement mechanism.'`

f7. In a sign thecombination of a flexible and reversible character bearing element, mechanism for mounting and moving the character bearing element longitudinally thereof with reference to the aperture plate,

separate mechanism for mounting and for moving the element transversely of the aperture plate simultaneouslywith the lon-gitudinal movement of the`element,driving mechanism for the longitudinal and transverse movement mechanisms connected therewith for vcoordinate `operation thereof, rand means for reversing the longitudinal motion mechanism to drive the element in ,a reverse longitudinal direction when-the' element is reversed. f

THADDEUS A. NOLN. 

